The wine industry has long been shaped by passionate, innovative people who dedicate their lives to the craft. This month we celebrated International Women’s Day, and the Good Food & Wine Show is proud to celebrate some of the talented women behind the wines you’ll find at the show.
From pioneering winemakers with decades of experience to new producers building brands from the ground up, these women are helping shape the future of Australian wine. We spoke with four incredible female winemakers and asked them about their inspiration, advice for the next generation, and how the industry can continue to support one another.
Joanne Irvine - Levrier Wines by Jo Irvine (Barossa, SA)
With more than three decades in the wine industry, Joanne Irvine has built a reputation for championing grape varieties that are often overlooked. As the founder and winemaker behind Levrier Wines by Jo Irvine, she takes pride in crafting award-winning wines from varieties that don’t always receive the recognition they deserve.
Having grown up as the daughter of a winemaker, Joanne has spent 36 years immersed in the industry. One of the aspects of her work she finds most rewarding is creating trophy-winning wines from undervalued grape varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Zinfandel, while also helping clients develop successful wine styles and brands.
When asked which woman in wine she would most like to raise a glass to, Joanne points to a true trailblazer – Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin, widely known as Madame Clicquot. After taking over her late husband’s wine business at just 27, she transformed it into the renowned Champagne house Veuve Clicquot. She pioneered innovations including the first vintage Champagne in 1810 and the riddling table process used to clarify Champagne.
For women entering the wine industry, Joanne encourages learning from great mentors and striving for excellence in every aspect of the craft. Just as importantly, she believes in standing your ground and not being afraid to go against the tide.
Jane Richards & Claire Davies - Eight at the Gate (Limestone Coast, SA)
Sisters Jane Richards and Claire Davies bring a unique dynamic to their winery, Eight at the Gate Wines.
As business partners, they celebrate their individual strengths by focusing on the areas where each excels. For Jane, that means leading sales and marketing, while Claire concentrates on the vineyard and winery. By “staying in their lanes”, they avoid micromanaging one another and instead maximise their impact in their specialised roles.
Their advice for women entering the wine industry highlights the importance of understanding the entire supply chain. Great wine doesn’t stop in the vineyard, it must also be made, packaged, marketed, sold and ultimately enjoyed by consumers. If any part of that chain isn’t working, the whole business can struggle.
When it comes to supporting others in the industry, Jane and Claire believe the answer is simple: talk. Sharing experiences, challenges and successes helps build stronger connections and a more collaborative industry.
Darcy Lapidge - Soul Growers (Barossa, SA)
For Darcy Lapidge, winemaker at Soul Growers, the most rewarding part of her work is the connection it creates.
Working for a small producer in the Barossa, Darcy says her role is deeply people-focused. She values the relationships she builds with customers, growers, suppliers and the local community. As someone who thrives on meeting new people and nurturing relationships, this personal aspect of winemaking is what celebrates her strengths the most.
When asked which woman she would raise a glass to, Darcy chose someone who helped shape her career: her university lecturer Jill Bauer. Jill played a pivotal role in developing Darcy’s technical and practical understanding of wine, and helped connect her with the team at Soul Growers for an industry placement with mentor Stuart Bourne, an opportunity that ultimately defined the trajectory of her career.
Darcy’s advice for women stepping into wine is to back yourself. Like many in the industry, she has navigated moments of imposter syndrome, but believes confidence is built through experience, by showing up, asking questions and trusting your instincts.
Her message for creating a more supportive industry is to be generous with praise. Recognising the work of peers and celebrating others’ wines may seem small, but it plays a powerful role in building a positive and inclusive culture.
Sarah Gregory - Genista Wines (Barossa, SA)
Building a wine brand from the ground up takes vision, resilience and creativity, something Sarah Gregory understands well.
As the co-founder of Genista Wines with her husband, Sarah balances running the brand with a full-time career in marketing. What she loves most about her work is the creative journey of building something from scratch.
From working in the vineyard and winery through to naming wines, designing labels and sharing the story behind each bottle, Sarah relishes being involved in every step of the process. Seeing all those pieces come together is what makes the journey so rewarding.
When asked who she would raise a glass to, Sarah chose to celebrate the many women working across the wine industry today; growers, winemakers, marketers, salespeople and business owners who are often balancing multiple roles, careers or family life along the way.
Her advice for women considering a career in wine is simple: back yourself. Buying a vineyard and moving from Melbourne to the Barossa without prior experience in wine was a huge leap, but one she took so she wouldn’t be left wondering “what if”. Today, she says she feels exactly where she is meant to be.
